weird MPG

I did the trip computer mod to a loaner car, just hold FM/AM and CD after you turn it to ACC. Worked that way for me on an 08.
 
the 2.3L non turbo should be using 87 and only 87. a higher octane on stock everything will cause minor engine damage, and possibly bad gas milage. a higher octane DOES NOT mean the fuel is of higher quality or is better in anyway. It just burns differently. if you have done monzta's timing mod, you should be advanced in timing 1 to 2 degrees. this would allow a 89-91 octane and possibly 93 if you would so desire. the only reason i would run 93 is if your running nitrous or an aftermarket turbo.

now then, at 9k miles at 1k ft above sea level, i get about 24mpg half city half highway driving, flooring it at least 5-8 times a day. i am not easy on the car by any means. i also have a 2 degree timing advance and am running 89 octane. i was previously getting 22mpg before the timing mod while running on 87 octane.

okay, theres my bit. any questions?

edit: the trip mod does not work on later model 08 and pretty much all 09 mazda 3's. mine is not even that late model 08 and it does not work. :(
 
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My friend has an 07 Pontiac G6 GT and his gauge is really accurate.

I get the gauge bouncing around but only my temp gauge does it...and that was after Mazda replaced my full synthetic Mobil1 10W-30 with crappy synthetic blend 5W-20. (ugh)
I just want my gauge to be closer to what ti actually should be instead of like half a gallon off. I mean half a gallon is a lot of gas...$1.50, 9ish miles, the difference between home and here...lol


i just read this.

you do realize your temp gauge in the car is related to the coolant temperature, and has no relation to your oil right?
 
whats even funnier is that 0w-20 would be a better oil to use than either of those, but i guess i shouldnt get into details.

i also noticed how much the offset on the stock fuel gauge is. ive figured out how to get a quick estimate of gas milage. *this is not 100% accurate but it comes close* watch your milage reading at 1/4 tank remaining.

if at 1/4 tank u run say 241.6 you are getting close to an average of 24mpg this actually works out pretty nicely. but the best way is to still measure gas put in to miles run.

i just read this.

you do realize your temp gauge in the car is related to the coolant temperature, and has no relation to your oil right?

My friend has an 07 Pontiac G6 GT and his gauge is really accurate.

I get the gauge bouncing around but only my temp gauge does it...and that was after Mazda replaced my full synthetic Mobil1 10W-30 with crappy synthetic blend 5W-20. (ugh)
I just want my gauge to be closer to what ti actually should be instead of like half a gallon off. I mean half a gallon is a lot of gas...$1.50, 9ish miles, the difference between home and here...lol
 
i just read this.

you do realize your temp gauge in the car is related to the coolant temperature, and has no relation to your oil right?
Naw I totally forgot. It's funny cause I've helped replace a couple temperature guages and had to drain coolant. But whatever, my gauge is still bouncier now that they took out my fancy oil.
 
FYI...

"How does Octane work?"
http://auto.howstuffworks.com/fuel-efficiency/fuel-consumption/question90.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Octane_rating

...enough information to make your head bleed. (confused)

Regarding gauge precision (fuel, temp., etc.)..

It might help to remember that, figuratively speaking, they're not marked in micrometers, so trying to measure their readings in micrometers is largely pointless -- they are just not precision instruments. If you want more precise readings, you could get a ScanGuageII or a DashHawk which will read out data directly from the ECM/computer through the OBDII port.

Or, you could forget about it and just drive it. (drive2)

Just tryin' to help.. :D
 
so im getting around 23 MPG now.

grounded fuel rail and TB, advanced timing, K&N filter on 89 octane

just installed my MS3 exhaust so well see what ill be getting now... :(
 
Regarding gauge precision (fuel, temp., etc.)..

It might help to remember that, figuratively speaking, they're not marked in micrometers, so trying to measure their readings in micrometers is largely pointless -- they are just not precision instruments. If you want more precise readings, you could get a ScanGuageII or a DashHawk which will read out data directly from the ECM/computer through the OBDII port.

Or, you could forget about it and just drive it. (drive2)

Just tryin' to help.. :D
Yea it's not worth it, the car won't be in my possession for much longer I'm hoping.
Thanks though!
 
last tank for me 33.79 i was stoked!! thats a damn good tank for regular driving and its the first tank after an autocross... soooo i am figuring it likes to get the snot beat of it!!! lol
 
I did 380 miles on a full tank... which is what? 26mpg? and I got a hatchback, and its automatic, and I drive like the devils behing my back... lol
 
gotta compare ur milage to how much u filled up, not how big ur tank is......anyways ive noticed i get better gas milage when i beat the snot out of it too, like not "hard" driving, but WOTing it a lot. ive heard that an engine is most efficient at WOT. so it makes sense. screw it, imma have fun the next couple tanks and see what i get, i get 23-24 driving normal/lightly hard. i got 25 a few weeks ago when i street raced a little.
 
... so im suppose to drive hard LOL thats a first.

by no means do i drive easy.. but im barely rearing 2k on the odometer.
i hardly ever go over 5k rpm, well i guess it wont hurt to try
 
Just let it wind out sometimes, this is what I've been told. If you let it run all the way up to the red line then drive it nice and smooth it runs more efficient. I wouldn't know, I've tried both ways and get crappy gas mileage either way so it's all on your call with this one.
 
yea i push it a few times a week, some times on accident lol
yea so far it gotten small improvements but not enough for me to be thrilled :/
 
Well, on the bright side, your car is holding together much better than mine has and yours wasn't in the shop for the past two weeks and Mazda didn't invalidate your warranty on half the car so small increments of increase sound pretty sweet to me!
 
this statement makes 0 sense.
I makes prefect sense, I totally forgot that the temp gauge is in the coolant although I've replaced a couple of them. Mazda screwed up and replaced my full synthetic heavier weight with their crappy stock weight and synthetic blend so no my engine is running a bit hotter everywhere and the temp gauge is a lot bouncier.
 

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